Loading dock canopy



` July 9, 1957 E. P. D'AzzC 2,798,502

LOADING DOCK CANOPY Filed Aug. 27, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 9, 1957 E.P. DAzzo 2,798,502

LOADING Docx GNOPY Filed Aug. 27, 1955 s sheets-sheet 2 is l I0 I3JNVENTOR.

July 9, 1957 E. P. D'Azzo 2,798,502

LOADING DOCK CANOPY Filed Aug '27, 3.955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 LOADING DOCKCANOPY Errol PtDAzzo, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 27, 1953, Serial No. 376,905

7 Claims. (Cl. 13S-5) This invention relates to an improved loading dockcanopy construction, and embraces means for protecting the gap or openspace between the outer end of the canopy frame and its covering and theside of the freight car, which has been located opposite the loadingdoor opening, which is protected by the canopy, so that rain or dripwater or both can be deflected tothe side of the canopy.

Another feature of the invention is the provision in a canopy frame andflexible rain protecting cover, with a drip deilecting pan, which ishorizontally shift'able on the frame of the canopy, so that it canalways be `fitted in the `doorway lof the freight car, to bridge theopen space between the outer end of the canopy frame and the side of thefreight car adjacent thereto.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a maincollapsible canopy frame with :an auxiliary frame, which is constructedto drop by gravity action to an lopen position, in such manner that itestablishes pressure engagement with the side of the freight car. v

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a maincanopy frame with vertical rear angle bars, and vertical movable outerangle bars connected to the rear angle bars by means of link-leverexpansion and contraction jointed members, together with stiffening barsand clamps for securing the vertical rear edge of the side canopy coverto the building wall, and similar clamps and a pair of stiffening barsfor securing the forward edge of the side canopy cover or curtain to theforward or movable angle bars, and thereby dispensing with the presentexpensive lacing practice.

A still further object of-the invention is the construction of acollapsible canopy `for loading docks or platforms, which will givemaximum rain and wind protection, which Acan be opened and closed withminimum effort, and which will give prolonged service against allweather conditions.

A further object is provision of a canopy with main side curtains andforwardly extending lauxiliary side curtains, the position of extensionof the auxiliary side c urtains being adjustable independently of theextension of the main curtains, the auxiliary side curtains being causedto collapse automatically when the main 'side curtains are retracted.

With the above and other objects in view the invention comprises certainnew and useful constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts,clearly described in the following specification, and fully illustratedin the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is la side view showing the improved canopy in its open position,with one side curtain removed for illustrative effect.

Fig. 2 is a Ifragmentary plan View showing the adjustable drip pan intilted inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view thereof, showing theclamping means for holding the drip pan on the folding canopy frame, forlongitudinal and r-adial adjnstrnent.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal lsectional View, showing the drip pan in'horizontal service position.

States Patent O v 2,798,502 Patented July 9.1951

Fig. 5 is a vertlcal sectional view, showing the rear clamping bars.

Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged sectional view of one of the movable outeror forward angle bars, showing the means for clamping the side .curtainthereto.

Referring to the :accompanying drawings, which illustrate the practicalembodiment of my invention, 10 designates one vertical rear angle barand 11 the companion rear angle bar, which is mounted in parallelrelation to the angle bar 10, bolts V12 being used for securing the rearflanges 13 of the angle bars, in such manner that the outer supportingflanges `13u will be located inwardly of said rear or base anges 13. t

On the supporting flange 13a of the angle bar 11, the rear supportinglinks y14fand 15 of the lazy-tong mechanism or extension and collapsiblearm 19 are pivotally secured by means of `the bolt or rivet 1,6, andabove this bolt or rivet another bolt or rivet 17 is secured to thesupporting flange 13a, and on this bolt or rivet `the short supportinglink 18 is pivot-ed.

The outer supporting link 20 of the mechanism or arm 19 is pivoted `bythe bolt or rivet 21 to the supporting flange 22a of the movable outerangle bar 22.

A similar and lower lazy-tong mechanism or collapsing supporting arm 23is supported by its rear links 24 and 25 on the pivot bolt 2,6, on thesupporting flange 13a, and by the short link 27 and pivot bolt 27a onthe same supporting ange. The outer link 28 of this arm 23 is pivoted onthe bolt or rivet 28a of the supporting flange 22a of the movable anglebar 22.

Adjacent to the outer supporting link 20 yof the arm 19, a lever bar 29is pivoted by the bolt or pin 30 to the supporting `flange 22a of theangle bar 22. The inner end of this lever bar 29 is provided with alateral pin or bolt 31, which engages the lower portion of the outersupporting ylink 20, well inwardly of the Aangle bar 22, when the arm 19is in open position.

The forward end or portion of the lever bar 29 is connected to one endof the Ihorizontal rod or bar 32, and in open position the lever bar 29projects upwardly in angular relation to the movable outer angle bar 22.The other end of the horizontal bar or rod 32 is secured to a similarlever bar 29a which is pivoted on the companion outer angle bar 33. Themovable angle bar or post v33 is similarly connected to the rear anglebar 10, by means of the use `of fan upper lazy-tong or extension arm 34,and a similar lower lazy-tong or extension arm.

Above the rear supporting angle bars 10 I'and 11, a canopy clamping bar36 is secured in place by means of the manual clamps 37, attached to thebuilding wall A. The canopy roof fabric 38 is formed with a tubular hemwhich receives this rod, 'and is clamped in place against the buildingwall A by means of the` rod or bar 36 and the clamps 37. This fabric isextended over the cross bar or rod 39, secured to the upper ends of themovable angle bars 22 and 33, land is then formed with another tubularhem through which the horizontal bar 32 extends.

The movable outer angle bar 22 is provided with a lever 40, pivoted bythe bolt 41 thereto, and the rear end lof this lever is provided with alateral stop pin 42, which engages the supporting link 28, and theforward end of this lever is pivotally connected with the upper end of ashort vertical pendant bar 43.

On each side of the canopy frame a side fabric curtain 44 is securedalong its rear vertical end by the stiffening bar 45 and the clamps 46to the building wall A, outwardly of the rear angle bar 11 on one sideand the angle bar 10 on the other side, by a similar stifening bar andclamp set. The upper edges of .these curtains are secured by stitchingor :otherwise to the roof fabric or cover 38.

The forward end of one side curtain is secured to the end of thehorizontal bar or rod 32, and the forward end of the other side curtainis secured to the other end of .the same rod 32. In this way pendantauxiliary curtains 44a are provided forwardly of the movable front anglebars 22 and 33. These auxiliary side curtains are formed with hems, andare adjustable in position independently of the main side curtains 44,because of the free pivotal action of the supporting levers29 and 40.The auxiliary side curtains collapse automatically when main sidecurtains 44 are retracted. The action results because links 20, 28 pivotas the multiple link arms are retracted. Links 20, 28 bear on stopelements 31, 42 to pivot levers 29, 4t? and cause the spacing betweenbars 22, 33 and 43, 43a to close. The pendant bars 43, 43a there beingone on each side of the canopy frame, serve to stretch the fabric of theside curtains 44a, which is subject to the gravity effect of its ownweight and that of the lever arms to swing automatically to an extendedopen position.

The distance between the movable front angle bars 22 and 33 is madegreater than the width of the maximum freight car doorway. In practice afreight car is switched to a side track, laid close .to a building wallhaving a loading door opening. It seldom happens that the verticalcenter line of the freight car doorway is lined up close to the centerline of the building doorway, so that it is necessary to allow forconsiderable misalignment of the freight car doorway with the buildingdoorway.

It is also diicult to provide a canopy frame and covering which can bemade standard in production, and l which will have a tailored t betweenthe building wall of a warehouse and a freight car on an adjacent sidetrack. In any case a small gap is usually left between the outer end ofthe canopy frame, and rain falls directly into this gap and drains intothis gap from the railroad car, to fall on the workers and goods movingto and from the freight car to the building through the loading dock orplatform. This may result in extensive damage to the goods transferredin either direction.

For the solution of this problem, I provide a metal or rigid drip pan47, preferably of aluminum or other noncorrosive material, which issupported on the fabric covered bar 32, by means of the clamps 48, whichincludes the clamp jaw 48a, having the llaterally extended integral base481:, which is attached to the bottom of the pan 47 by means of one ormore rivets 47a. The jaw 43a is in the form of a block having an arcuateor concave seat 48e, to engage one side of the fabric covered rod 32.The opposite side of the fabric rod or bar 32 is engaged by the concavejaw 48d, formed on lthe end of the movable jaw member or bar 48e. Adowel pin or post 48f is secured by its head 48g to the jaw member 43aand has a free sliding fit with the bar 48e. The jaw bar 43e is clampedagainst the fabric covered rod or bar 32 by means of the bolt 48h,secured in place by its head 48j to the base 48h, which is engaged bythe wing nut 48k. A coil spring 48m is mounted on the bolt 48h andexerts spring tension to separate the movable jaw member from the jawmember fixed to the drip pan. By loosening the wing nut the drip pan maybe shifted longitudinally on the fabric covered bar, and radially onthis bar. The roof fabric extends between the ytwo jaws, as shown inFig. 3. Two or more sets of bolts, clamps and wing nuts are used.

In its service drainage position, the drip pan is supported horizontallyon and above the fabric covered bar or rod 32, and in its non-serviceand non-drainage position, the drip pan is allowed to swing by gravityunder .the fabric covered bar or rod 32. ln its service position therear longitudinal edge of the drip pan overlies the forward and flexibleportion of the roof fabric, at 51, which thus forms a transversedrainage trough for the roof covering. The opposite and forward side ofthe drip pan is then adapted, in its service position, to extend intoVthe freight Car, and thereby bridge the gap between the freight car andthe outer end of the canopy frame, or the auxiliary frame thereof. Thedrip pan is longitudinally adjustable on the fabric covered bar or rod32, so that it may be properly aligned with the door opening of thefreight car, when the freight car has been stopped in a position out ofalignment with the loading dock platform and door opening. Since thecanopy frame is made considerably wider than the average or maximumwidth of a freight car doorway, compensation is thus provided forirregular stopping of the freight car. The longitudinal sliding of thedrip pan, within the canopy frame and covering, insures that protectivedrainage of water entering the gap between the canopy frame and thefreight car will be diverted to the side of the working pathway thusestablished between the freight car doorway and the loading dockdoorway, with maximum protection for workers and goods handled by them.

The canopy frame may be collapsed by manually retracting movable bars22, and 33, whereupon the multiple link arms will be withdrawn and themain side curtains 44 will collapse up to wall A. At the same time theauxiliary side curtains 44a will collapse automatically by the action oflinks 20, 28 on pins 31, 42 of levers 29, 40 as explained above. As analternative means of collapsing the canopy frame from its fully openposition there are provided a pair of pulleys 54, 56 mounted on bar 43,a pair of pulleys 55, 57 mounted on bar 43a, pulleys 60, 61 and 62secured to brackets 37 on wall A, and pulleys 58, S9 secured to rods 45at Wall A. A windlass or Winding mechanism 63 is mounted on bar 43a. Thepulley cords 64 and 65 are wound in separate coils on the spool of thewinding mechanism. Cord 65 passes over pulleys 60, 59, 55 and 57 and itsend is tied to a bracket on rod 45. Cord 64 passes over pulleys 62, 61,58, 54 and 56, and is tied to a bracket on the other rod 45. When thecords are wound up on the spool they pull simultaneously on bars 43, 43ato retract the canopy frame. The windlass spool 0r drum is actuated bymeans of a conventional worm gear disposed in gear box 66 operated byhandle bar 63a. The canopy frame is held by this worm gear fromaccidentally opening. To open the canopy frame the hande 63a is turnedmanually in a reverse direction while the bars 22, 33 are pushed forwardmanually. Normally the weight of the bars 22, 33 and the supportedfabric side walls will be sufficient to cause the multiple link arms toextend forwardly with a minimum exertion of manual eifort as the cords64 and 65 are unw'ound.

By means of the auxiliary frame, an automatic take-up is providedbetween the main canopy frame and the freight car, which compensates fordifferences between narrow freight cars and wider freight cars, and atthe same time the roof fabric covering for the main canopy frame ismaintained tight and in best drainage condition, as a result of the factthat the main frame of the canopy can be extended to maximum at alltimes, instead of being adjusted to meet the conditions caused by thepresence of a wider freight car, or a narrower freight car.

Due to the fact the main canopy frame is fully extended in any and allservice conditions, and is always used with the roof fabric cover inmaximum taut condition, no folding of the roof fabric to provide pocketsfor rainwater to collect, results. The roof fabric between the maincanopy frame and the forward end of the auxiliary pressure frame isallowed to form a variable drainage trough, regardless of the amount ofits opening, and the allowance made for this opening movement is such asto meet all variations in the widths of the freight cars handled.

The opening movement of the main canopy frame moves the auxiliaryfoiward frame into position where it drops by gravity against the sideof the freight car, and no calculation of this opening need be made, asthe opening movement of the auxiliary frame takes place by a gravityaction and ends when pressure contact is made by the auxiliary framewith the side of the freight car.

When .this takes place the main canopy frame is under :n maximumtightness and a flexible fabric trough is provided at the lower end ofthe roof covering.

Having described my invention I claim as patentable:

1. A folding canopy having a pair of opposing multiplelink supportingarms, said arms being spaced apart and disposed parallel to each other,rear supports for the multiple-link arms, forward vertical bars havingpivotal connection with the multiple-link arms, a cross bar con nectingthe upper ends of the forward vertical bars to each other, a leverpivoted on each of said forward vertical bars, a horizontal barconnecting the forward ends of the levers to each other, each of saidlevers having a stop on its rear end to engage one of said multiplelinkarms, a drip pan positioned on and movable with the horizontal bar, andmeans for securing the drip pan on the said horizontal bar in ahorizontal plane for longitudinal adjustment thereon.

2. A canopy frame having supporting side arms, rear supports for saidside arms, forward supports for said side arms, a roof fabric securedover the side arms at its rear end and extending forwardly, a cross barconnecting the upper parts of the forward supports to each other, saidcross bar being connected to the forward supports at a lower level thanthe rear end of the roof fabric and providing a support for said rooffabric, a second cross bar movably supported on the forward supportsforwardly of the first-named cross bar, said second cross bar beingconnected to t-he forward end of the roof fabric to maintain atransverse drainage trough between the two cross bars, and a drip panlongitudinally adjustable on the secondnamed cross bar and securablethereto so that said drip pan may be held in a horizontal plane andcentered within the doorway of a freight car.

3. A canopy frame having a pair of extendable multiplelink arms, saidarms being spaced apart and disposed parallel to each other, rearvertical supports attached to said arms, forwardly disposed movableVertical bars pivotally connected with said arms, a first cross rodconnecting said movable bars to each other at their upper ends, a secondcross rod, a plurality of levers pivotally connected to said bars andsupporting the second cross rod, and a drip pan carried by andhorizontally adjustable on the second cross rod.

4. A canopy comprising a pair of opposing extendable multiple-link arms,said arms being spaced apart and disposed parallel to each other, rearvertical supports attached to said arms, a first pair of forwardlydisposed movable vertical bars pivotally connected to said arms, a firstcross rod connecting the vertical bars to each other at their upperends, a second pair of movable vertical bars disposed forwardly beyondthe first pair of bars, a second cross rod connecting the second pair ofvertical bars, and a plurality of levers, each one of said levers beingpivotally connected to one bar of the lirst pair of bars and to one barof the second pair of bars, each of said levers having a portionextending rearwardly beyond the rst pair of vertical bars, said portioncarrying a stop element arranged to engage a forward link of one of saidarms, whereby the spacing between the rst pair of bars and the secondpair of bars may be changed without changing the position of extensionof said arms, with the stop elements limiting the maximum spacingbetween the irst and second pair of bars by engagement with the forwardlinks.

5. A canopy comprising a pair of extendable multiplelink arms, said armsbeing spaced apart and disposed parallel to each other, rear verticalsupports attached to said arms, a first pair of forwardly disposedmovable vertical bars pivotally connected to said arms, a first crossrod connecting the vertical bars to each other at their upper ends, asecond pair of movable vertical bars disposed forwardly beyond the firstpair of bars, a second cross rod connecting the second pair of verticalbars, a plurality of levers, each one of said levers being pivotallyconnected to one bar of the first pair of bars and to one bar of thesecond pair of bars, each of said levers having a portion extendingrearwardly beyond the tirst pair of vertical bars, said portion carryinga stop element arranged to engage a link of one of the supporting arms,a first pair of side curtains supported between said first pair of barsand another pair of rear supports, and a pair of auxiliary side curtainssupported between said first pair of bars and said second pair of bars,whereby the extension of the auxiliary side curtains may be changedwithout changing the position of extension of said first pair of sidecurtains.

6. A canopy comprising a pair of extendable multiplelink arms, said armsbeing spaced apart and disposed parallel to each other, rear verticalsupports attached to said arms, a first pair of forwardly disposedmovable vertical bars pivotally connected to said arms, a iirst crossrod connecting the vertical bars to each other at their upper ends, asecond pair of movable vertical bars disposed forwardly beyond the firstpair of bars, a second cross rod connecting the second pair of verticalbars, a plurality of levers, each one of said levers being pivotallyconnected to one bar of the rst pair of bars and to one bar of thesecond pair of bars, each of said levers having a portion extendingrearwardly beyond the lirst pair of vertical bars, said portion carryinga stop element arranged to engage a link of one of the supporting armsto space the second pair of bars a maximum distance from the rst pair ofbars, whereby the spacing between the tirst pair of bars and the secondpair of bars may be changed without changing the position of extensionof said arms with the stop elements limiting the maximum spacing betweenthe rst and second pair of bars by engagement with the forward links,and whereby retraction of said arms causes the spacing between the firstand second pair of bars to close.

7. A canopy according to claim 6, further comprising a pair of sidecurtains supported between said rst pair of bars and another pair ofrear supports, a pair of auxiliary side curtains supported between saidrst pair of bars and said second pair of bars, and a drip pan carried byand horizontally adjustable on the second cross bar, whereby extensionof the auxiliary side curtains may be changed without changing theposition of extension of said first pair of side curtains, and wherebyretraction of said arms causes the auxiliary side curtains to becollapsed as the spacing between the first and second pair of barscloses.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 186,529Biegelaar Jan. 23, 1877 701,126 Bahrmann May 27, 1902 923,021 Condon May25, 1909 1,141,204 Noce June 1, 1915 2,120,018 Cone June 7, 19382,567,995 Eshnaui` Sept. 18, 1951

